2017 LOOKBACK: Councilmember Lisa Herbold’s year in review

We usually put together a few year-in-review items, and you’ll see ours tomorrow – the year’s not over until it’s over! But many others go public with their lookbacks a bit sooner, and among them is West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. Since her 2017 year-in-review writeup is not on the city website yet, you’ve probably only seen it if you’re on her mailing list. It contains way too many links for us to try to republish it via cutting and pasting, but you should be able to see the browser version here – nine parts (transportation, public safety, housing, land use, government accountability, economic development/equity, arts, budget, constituent contacts), 34 shortcuts to those sections and their sub-sections, followed by the full review.

P.S. As previewed here the other day, Herbold is scheduled to be the main guest when the Southwest District Council meets 6:30 pm Wednesday (January 3rd) at the Sisson Building/Senior Center (4217 SW Oregon), so if you have questions/concerns, bring them!

Respectfully disagree, there’s always bureaucracy to cut and I’m not against that, but cutting programs not deemed effective… How do you quantify that? The City has very little at its disposal in terms of generating revenue, the best solution would be a State Income Tax that is unlikely to ever pass but we could put pressure on our representatives. Our lifestyle costs money and our old way of taxing isn’t able to keep up.

A program that is not effective is one that isn’t accomplishing the goals you have set. If you have to throw more money at it, you have to evaluate the ROI before proceeding. If the current City taxing isn’t able to keep up, then why exactly should the State institute a new tax? My “lifestyle” as you put it doesn’t entitle me to someone else’s hard earned money.

Councilmember Herbold has been a a disappointment during the year. I don’t feel that she has represented the district overall — seems to be an approach of ignoring the block of constituents that pay the taxes, do the commutes, shop the businesses, work in the city, own businesses in the city, work on their houses, raise their children.

Particularly frustrated with the income tax proposal (as a way of summing up things) – never did hear “how” or “why” this measure would pass muster with the Court system. This seemed to me to be a headline grab attempt – and ended up costing X dollars of administrative time for what? I would like to see a focus on making actual changes to make our community better for all as opposed to making grandiose policy statements.

Also supported the high tax on sugary drinks which really is dumb based on what is taxed. I agree with mj I’m taxed out I’ve lived here for almost 20 years and really don’t like the direction I’m not a republican I’m just a common sense independent who leans more to the left but the local govt has been making it hard I hope we get some better leadership in 2018. The Seattle Times pointed out the city is loaded with tax revenue which has created much but 6 figure city employees.

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand) A crew working for the state Department of Natural Resources is back out on West Seattle beaches this week, cleaning up creosote - a toxic threat you might not even recognize as you walk along beaches strewn with old pilings containing literally tons of the substance lon...